Gout in the knee joint

A gout flare can make the knee feel full, tight, and difficult to straighten. The pain may be severe enough to disturb sleep or make ordinary steps difficult. Inflammation is driven by crystals inside the joint, not simply by muscle soreness. A raised urate level can support the picture, but it does not by itself prove that a particular knee is affected. Clinicians may need to test joint fluid when the diagnosis is uncertain.

Other swollen-joint causes include injury, calcium-crystal arthritis, and infection. Symptoms in the knee can occur with symptoms in other joints, such as ankle swelling or general joint pain. See [Joint Pain](/symptoms/joint-pain/) and [Gout](/conditions/gout/) for connected information.

Protect the knee from unnecessary loading, but change position gently so it does not remain rigid for long periods. Elevating the leg and using a cool pack over fabric may ease discomfort. Use the flare medicine selected for you and follow its timing instructions. Do not double a dose because pain remains, and check with a pharmacist or clinician before adding another painkiller. After the flare, review a longer-term plan that may include monitoring, medicine adjustment, and attention to kidney health.

Seek same-day advice for a first episode of a hot, swollen knee or for a flare that feels different from previous ones. Urgent assessment is needed with fever, feeling faint or very unwell, spreading redness, or inability to walk. Infection inside a joint can damage it and may need immediate treatment; it cannot be safely ruled out from pain pattern alone.

Ask how the diagnosis will be confirmed, whether a joint-fluid sample is needed, and which treatment is safest with your kidney function and current prescriptions. Ask what symptoms should prompt an emergency review during a future flare.